Concord News : fundraiser

Bikers, runners and paddlers complete Contoocook Carry

Bow Editor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:11:00 GMT

Since I first spoke with event organizer Mary Congoran about the race, she has been telling me the Contoocook Carry brings out the best in Hopkinton residents.

I figured she was right, but until I rode my bicycle into a ditch on the side of the road, I never really completely understood.

On Sunday, Sept. 21, what seemed like the entire town of Hopkinton was either racing, setting up the race, handing out Gatorade and water – or, in the case of Peter Sorel, helping a stranded reporter pop his chain back into place.

The race got started with a 2-mile run. I found myself in the middle of the pack when I arrived with my red kayak, a piece of equipment I hope to never see again.

I hopped in, pushed off and started paddling my way down the Contoocook River, starting the 5-mile voyage down the calm river (Believe me, I wish there had been a current).

It took me a while to realize that I was taking on a bit of water, and by a bit, I mean about half of my kayak was filled with the Contoocook River. But hey, I’m not one to make excuses.

Getting my kayak out of the river was nearly as difficult as the 5 miles of paddling, and carrying it to the second half of the river wasn’t that easy either.

By the time I slowly paddled by selectmen Chairman Scott Flood, who was floating on a metal boat on the river, I considered paddling over to him and seeing if I could find a way to finagle the motor off and attach it to my kayak.

Eventually, I made it to my bicycle and thought I had finally made it to the point where I could cruise the final 14 miles to the finish line, but as I took my first left onto Dustin Road, I heard a pop – never a good sign when you’re on anything attached to wheels.

No longer able to pedal, I tried to pull off the road, which turned out to be a bad decision. While my bike came flying up at me, I landed square on my feet. I did, however, have a severely bruised ego, and wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish the race I had been looking forward to for the past few months.

Then, along came Peter Sorel.

“Come on over to my barn, let’s see what we can do for you,” he said.

A complete stranger who happened to live nearby, Sorel walked with me toward his home, and jokingly asked me if I knew who Rosie Ruiz was, and if I was interested in performing a similar feat. (In 1980, Ruiz registered for the Boston Marathon and got a ride close to the finish line before running the rest of the way.)

After Sorel finished repairing my bicycle, I hit the road, and as I peddled I had one question: When did Hopkinton get so many hills?

A little over three hours after I started, I returned to Hopkinton High School, extremely exhausted but happy to have been able to take part in an event that both raised money and brought a community together.

This year, the event raised about $9,000 from event-day participants and donations from numerous people, according to Congoran. The event brought 82 teams, with more than 200 participants, ranging in age from 3 months to 88.

All of the proceeds go toward fuel assistance, a cause that will be crucial this winter with the rising costs of oil.

My time certainly was nothing to brag about in this challenging event, but on the bright side, I lived to tell about it.

WJYY raises $31,628 for Children’s Fund

Bow Editor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:47:00 GMT

Concord radio station 105.5 JYY recently began a charity, when the station’s morning show host, Nazzy, stepped on the 46-inch by 68-inch platform of a scissor lift, and was raised 25 feet in the air at the State House Plaza in Downtown Concord.

He pledged to stay there until $25,000 was raised for The JYY Children’s Fund.

For the next few days, Nazzy spent day and night on the lift, braving the elements in pursuit of the goal. On Thursday, Sept. 20, at 5 p.m., Nazzy came off the lift. In front of a crowd of spectators, he presented Kristen’s Gift founder John Xiggoris a check for $31,628.27. That money will go directly towards Pediatric Oncology research and technology development at Children’s Hospital At Dartmouth (CHaD).

105.5 JYY thanks everyone who contributed, from the kids who emptied their piggy banks, to the local businesses who donated thousands, and everyone in between; and the entire staff of 105.5 JYY and its sister stations of Nassau Broadcasting, who worked around the clock to ensure the success of the event.

Sponsors included United Rentals, Bonneville and Son, Camping World, Eastern Mountain Sports, Serendipity Day Spa, The Concord Grille, The Common Man, Donatello’s Pizza and Panera Bread.

American Girl fashion show set for Nov. 3, 4

Bow Editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:15:00 GMT

The Junior Service League (JSL) of Concord will host the third annual American Girl Fashion Show at the Capitol Center for the Arts, Nov. 3 and 4 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.

The Junior Service League has received this opportunity to be the only New Hampshire organization to partner with the American Girl Co. for a fundraising fashion show. The American Girl Co. has a long-standing commitment to children’s charities. The Junior Service League, in turn, will continue its 70-year tradition of supporting social service agencies in the community, by distributing the money raised to organizations helping children in crisis.

American Girl dolls have become something of a cultural phenomenon with many young girls today. The American Girl Doll Co. designs dolls representing historical figures from the nation’s past, as well as those depicting contemporary life in the United States. Through their clothing, accessories and accompanying biographies, these dolls help to convey the values of individuality, intellectual curiosity and imagination that parents strive to instill in their children today.

The fashion show will benefit Concord area children in need.

Tickets are between $27 and $35 and can be purchased on-line from the Capitol Center at www.ccanh.com or by calling the box office at 225-1111.

Dress for Success – Preparing women for the workforce

Bow Editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:13:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

When the time comes for a job interview, one of the most important things is to look good. But what if you can’t afford to?

That’s where Lisa Maria-Booth and her group of volunteers come in.

Maria-Booth is a member of the board of directors for the New Hampshire chapter of Dress for Success, which provides women who are looking to get back into the workforce with the clothes and other means they need to get a job to help turn their lives around.

The program also provides a career center with computers to help with the job search as well as monthly support meetings for the women who are coming off financial assistance.

At the meetings, the women get the chance to talk with others who have gone through the same things they have, as well as guest speakers who talk about subjects such as managing finances and feeding families healthy meals on a limited budget.

According to Maria-Booth, the group provides far more than just the clothing the women need for their interview.

“It really does enable and empower these women who truly are disadvantaged,” she said. “They come in really down, and after as little as 45 minutes, they leave feeling like they can do anything.”

Though the group is not currently in need of clothing donations, it has a fundraising event planned for Thursday, Sept. 20, with speakers including author Jodi Picoult and former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.

The fundraiser, which will take place at the Concord City Auditorium, will raise money for multiple aspects of the program according to Maria-Booth.

“Many of the women we help don’t have cars, so we would like to purchase a van to have a mobile unit,” she said. “In addition, we only have one location in the state and there are women all over who need help getting on their feet. Eventually, we’d love to open another location.”

The first part of the fundraiser will be a meet and greet with the speakers, with tickets for that portion as well as the reception costing $50. For $15, guests will be able to purchase tickets to the event, which Maria-Booth hopes will seat about 800 people.

In addition to monetary donations, Maria-Booth encourages New Hampshire residents to volunteer. Many of those who are volunteering have been through the program, gotten jobs and want to give back to those going through the same process.

For information on tickets to the Dress for Success fundraiser, contact www.dressfor
success.org/newhampshire, or a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Dollars help endangered wildlife

Bow Editor — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:35:00 GMT

Contributions to the 2007 annual fund campaign for the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program are accepted through June 30.

The annual fund campaign focuses on bringing in $50,000 in donations to match a challenge grant from the state legislature. Funds received also help meet the required state share of a federal matching grant for the nongame program, run by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

“It’s much easier and cheaper to keep common species common than it is to try to restore species that are in trouble,” said John Kanter, coordinator of the nongame program. “New Hampshire currently has two new species being considered for the federal threatened or endangered status – the New England cottontail and Blanding’s turtle. Early intervention leads to more likely success for saving species and, in the long run, saving money.”

To contribute to the 2007 Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program annual fund, send donations by June 30 to: Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, N.H. Fish and Game, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.

For details, call 271-2461 or visit www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/nongame_and_endangered_wildlife.htm. With a contribution of $35 or more, you’ll receive both a “Snakes of N.H.” and a “Wetland Birds of N.H.” field identification card, only available to nongame donors.

Donations received after June 30 are gratefully accepted and credited toward the 2008 campaign.